The Beinz began their professional career with a devoted local fanbase, recording covers of songs by Them, The Yardbirds, The Who and Bob Dylan. The group was also the first to record "The Pied Piper," which later became a #1 hit for Crispian St. Peters. The group had a reputation as masters of song interpretation.
They signed to Capitol Records in 1967 and released their only Billboard Top 40 hit, "Nobody but Me" (first recorded by the Isley Brothers, who wrote it). "Nobody" peaked at #8 in January 1968. An album, Evolutions, followed. The Beinz' next single, "Turn On Your Love Light," flopped in the US (peaking at #80) but shot to #1 (for six weeks) in Japan and a tour followed. "Turn On Your Love Light" (a hit for Bobby Bland in 1962, and later covered by several artists, including Jerry Lee Lewis) featured "It's Fun To Be Clean", a snappy tune reminiscent of the Beatles' Penny Lane, as the B-side. Later in 1968, Capitol released the single "Hold on Baby" only in Japan where it also hit the top of the charts. Despite their Nipponese success, the Human Beinz broke up soon thereafter.
REVIVAL
In 2004, Quentin Tarantino used "Nobody But Me" on the soundtrack for his film Kill Bill: Vol. 1; also, the tune is featured on two compilation CDs: "ESPN's The Greatest Crowd-Rockin' Anthems Of All Time" and "J&R's Music World Presents Rock And Roll's Greatest Hits Of All Time"). The song made yet another appearance in Martin Scorcese's 2006 film The Departed.
Currently, a group of four musicians (none of them original memebers) tour as the Human Beinz, having bought the rights to the name. The "new" Beinz play county fairs and other smaller venues in the Midwest and Northeast.
My Animal
The Human Beinz Lyrics
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He's strong and he's clean
When the roaring crowd
Chased him on
He runs and he jumps
He flies and he soars
My animal, he's fine
He then comes around
He's never found in his cage
He wants the sweets
He looks for the sweets
That he's made
He's tall and he's lean
He's strong and he's clean
When the roaring crowd
Chased him on
He runs and he jumps
He flies and he soars
My animal, he's fine
How is yours?
He wants what he should and should not
I cannot begin
Should he lie, should he cheat, or...
The lyrics of The Human Beinz's song "My Animal" seem to be describing an actual animal, possibly a wild animal that is kept in a cage or enclosure. The animal is described as tall, lean, strong and clean, suggesting that it is healthy and well-cared for. When the crowd is roaring or chasing him, he runs, jumps, flies and soars, implying that he is agile and energetic. The singer then says that the animal never stays in his cage, implying that he is too wild or too restless to be confined. He wants the sweets, which he has made, implying that the animal is intelligent and resourceful.
However, towards the end of the song, the lyrics become more ambiguous. The singer asks, "Should he lie, should he cheat, or..." implying that the animal might have questionable behavior, or that the singer is questioning his own morals when it comes to the treatment of the animal. Overall, the lyrics seem to be exploring the complex relationship between humans and animals, and the tension between admiration for their strength and beauty, and the desire to control and exploit them.
Line by Line Meaning
He's tall and he's lean
He's physically fit and slender.
He's strong and he's clean
He's muscular and hygienic.
When the roaring crowd
Chased him on
When he's being chased, he can handle it well.
He runs and he jumps
He flies and he soars
My animal, he's fine
How is yours?
He's athletic and energetic, and the artist is boasting about how great his animal is compared to others.
He then comes around
He's never found in his cage
He wants the sweets
He looks for the sweets
That he's made
He freely moves around and doesn't like being confined, and he has a sweet tooth.
He wants what he should and should not
I cannot begin
Should he lie, should he cheat, or...
The singer is unsure how to control his animal's desires and behavior, and is questioning whether the animal will do things it shouldn't.
Contributed by Adeline L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.